Average student loan debt?

[riverc0il]

Short answers

1 --YEP--it is worth it.

2. IQ or intelligence and drive get you IN THE DOOR after that it is all about YOUR achievement in advancing organizational goals and YOUR ability to work effectively with others

3. EQ or emotional intelligence not strictly IQ AND DRIVE gets you promoted .

Would expect the former college pres to chime in on this topic IQ and intelligence doesn't get most people in the door. The piece of paper does. Or at least citing a piece of paper on a resume. Promotions, goals, teamwork, and intelligence (emotion or otherwise) really helps you move up the chain, but I think we all know just as many fools as people that truly deserve their promotions.

Guess I am a tad jaded but just calling them as I see them.

 

[riverc0il]

Yup, teaching is definitely a college degree required field. Popular major but generally a steady demand depending upon the ebb and flow of the baby population. Hard to predict what education needs with be a half dozen years out for elementary needs but middle and high school levels can be projected out a few years based on current trends. My brother went into music education and has had a horrid time finding steady employment at a location he prefers. He had to move halfway across the state, has previously received a pink slip, and is currently on yearly contracts teaching music instead of instrumentation which is not his choice. The arts in general have a tough go in the education field but much more demand for the "three Rs" as they can't really "cut" those programs too much.

 

[severine]

Yup, teaching is definitely a college degree required field. Popular major but generally a steady demand depending upon the ebb and flow of the baby population. Hard to predict what education needs with be a half dozen years out for elementary needs but middle and high school levels can be projected out a few years based on current trends. My brother went into music education and has had a horrid time finding steady employment at a location he prefers. He had to move halfway across the state, has previously received a pink slip, and is currently on yearly contracts teaching music instead of instrumentation which is not his choice. The arts in general have a tough go in the education field but much more demand for the "three Rs" as they can't really "cut" those programs too much.

With a degree in English (minor in History), I think I have my bases covered. At least I live in a decent state for teachers, at least as far as wages go.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

With a degree in English (minor in History), I think I have my bases covered. At least I live in a decent state for teachers, at least as far as wages go.

It seems like a good % of girls I've dated have been teachers and they all seem to be doing pretty well $$$$-wise. Plus it's tough to beat summers off(winters off would be better). From my experience in college..older students(late 20s on up) typically do better because they want to be there and have good time management skills. Plus they've been out in the Real World and know how tough it is to get by without a degree.

I miss college for the social aspects but definitely not for the classes. In High School I was in the top 20% and in college I was simply in the middle of the pack..because everybody that made it into college was at least semi-smart...Anyway the skills I learned in college will help me out today when I sell some tombstones...JEA!

 

[Warp Daddy]

Would expect the former college pres to chime in on this topic IQ and intelligence doesn't get most people in the door. The piece of paper does. Or at least citing a piece of paper on a resume. Promotions, goals, teamwork, and intelligence (emotion or otherwise) really helps you move up the chain, but I think we all know just as many fools as people that truly deserve their promotions.

Guess I am a tad jaded but just calling them as I see them.

YEP you said it -- UR jaded or at least cynical for such a young guy -- Guys my age are usually afflicted with that condition . Hell i'm still optimistic that we can make a differance and that it can happen by catching folks doing things right and then re-enforcing that behavior .

My philosophy : treat them as they COULD be rather than as they are . I always felt that as a former coach turned into an educational leader my job was to HIRE" potential" winners and create an ENVIRONMENT where motivation was likely to occur and make winners out of all of them.
If it doesn't happen well then take corrective action

I
Sure your point is well taken "some" jerks get promoted in organizations especially if they married the boss's daughter or are afflicted with bosses who themselves are "under- developed" as leaders Lmao

But my point is that IQ or your degree are just openers --after that it WHAT are you contributing and how do you work with people--


Steve : Good discussion -- we could have had some REAL fun working together

Warp

 

[playoutside]

Since you are planning on teaching, have you looked into substitute teaching as an option? Many districts don't require a BS/BA, so your associates may be enough. It'll also get you introduced to some of the districts and make contacts with the people you will need after you graduate. Subbing can be full of headaches (kids who love to take advantage), but if you get into a good district, known for your abilities, you may just open some doors and gain some experience while earning some cash.

 

[drjeff]

I had zero for my undergraduate degree (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - thank you Mom + Dad and Grandparents on both sides!) and around 60,000 from dental school. My wife was also loan free from undergrad (Boston University - thanks to my father in-law being a professor at BU) and then she racked up just over 100,000 in dental school and her residency So as we looked at it at the time, we had a mortgage before we had a mortgage.

Now, in my part tme role as dental school faculty, I'll see some student enrolling in dental school with 200,000 in debt already, and that's before they take out 4 years of $$ for dental school (add in another $150,000 or so for those students )

 

[severine]

Since you are planning on teaching, have you looked into substitute teaching as an option? Many districts don't require a BS/BA, so your associates may be enough. It'll also get you introduced to some of the districts and make contacts with the people you will need after you graduate. Subbing can be full of headaches (kids who love to take advantage), but if you get into a good district, known for your abilities, you may just open some doors and gain some experience while earning some cash.

Connecticut requires a BS/BA to substitute teach. Even if I qualified, finding last minute care for a 1 year old and 3 year old would be nearly impossible for me. I don't know anybody who could do that without prior notice (of more than a night) and not on a set schedule. And the daily pay wouldn't cover a daycare center's costs per diem for 2 kids.

Paraprofessionals are only required to have an AS and pass a test, but I haven't had a chance to take the test.

The biggest deterrent becomes daycare costs. That's why I became a SAHM initially. Who wants to throw away over $400 a week to a daycare center? Who can afford to?

 

[wa-loaf]

About 8k. Long paid off. I had free tuition due to my dad being a prof, but I still had to come up with room and board. I think he figured the free tuition was enough and he never bothered to put anything else aside for school for me or my brother.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I had zero for my undergraduate degree (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - thank you Mom + Dad and Grandparents on both sides!) and around 60,000 from dental school. My wife was also loan free from undergrad (Boston University - thanks to my father in-law being a professor at BU) and then she racked up just over 100,000 in dental school and her residency So as we looked at it at the time, we had a mortgage before we had a mortgage.

Now, in my part tme role as dental school faculty, I'll see some student enrolling in dental school with 200,000 in debt already, and that's before they take out 4 years of $$ for dental school (add in another $150,000 or so for those students )

Wow so $350K in debt..I wonder what the monthly payments would be like? I graduated from college 7 years ago and some of my friends are still paying back college loans so I assume most loans are paid back in 10+ years.

If I ever have kids...I wonder how much college will be for them in 30 years. I'm sure they'll get full schlarships since they'll inherit my smart genes..lol

 

[wa-loaf]

Wow so $350K in debt..I wonder what the monthly payments would be like? I graduated from college 7 years ago and some of my friends are still paying back college loans so I assume most loans are paid back in 10+ years.

A 30 yr mortgage for that much would be about $2,500 a month. I don't know if they let you spread out your school debt that far. That's a huge burden coming out of school. I guess dentists make more money than I thought.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Who wants to throw away over $400 a week to a daycare center? Who can afford to?

In Europe daycare is funded by the government..maybe you can move to France....then you can ski Chamonix. The office manager at my work relys on her in-laws to watch her kids..otherwise her salary would be totally eaten up by childcare costs..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

A 30 yr mortgage for that much would be about $2,500 a month. I don't know if they let you spread out your school debt that far. That's a huge burden coming out of school. I guess dentists make more money than I thought.

I don't know what people are thinking when they go to a $35k-$50k a year private college and take out a loan for the full amount..a girl I recenly dated owes $120K and she has to live with her parents indefinitely because her loan payment is more than what rent is. She would have been better off at a state college..financially..

 

[deadheadskier]

I had zero for my undergraduate degree (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - thank you Mom + Dad and Grandparents on both sides!) and around 60,000 from dental school. My wife was also loan free from undergrad (Boston University - thanks to my father in-law being a professor at BU) and then she racked up just over 100,000 in dental school and her residency So as we looked at it at the time, we had a mortgage before we had a mortgage.

Now, in my part tme role as dental school faculty, I'll see some student enrolling in dental school with 200,000 in debt already, and that's before they take out 4 years of $$ for dental school (add in another $150,000 or so for those students )

that's crazy money

I'm sure there are many financial benefits in becoming a dentist. Heck I read an article just the other day about highest paid professions for people with two year degrees. Dental Hygenist rated highest at $65K average per year. I have zero interest in putting my hands in the mouths of strangers, but reading that article gave me pause to think about what a dentist must make and why my crowns cost so damn much :uzi:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_money_does_a_dentist_earn

 

[drjeff]

A 30 yr mortgage for that much would be about $2,500 a month. I don't know if they let you spread out your school debt that far.

Yup, the Federal Gov't will let you consolidate all your federally insured loans and roll them into a 30 year payback schedule if you so choose.

That's a huge burden coming out of school. I guess dentists make more money than I thought.

Hand's down, graduation debt levels and loan repayment concerns are a very frequent topic that I hear when I'm talking with the students as I'm teaching.

As for dentists making a bunch of $$, well in general we do make a good wage, but in general also we'll usually have the equivalent of 2 or 3 mortgage payments a month to make also (student loans, home mortgage, and often a practice buy-in payment) especially during the first 10 to maybe 15 years out of school. So that healthy income, by the time Uncle Sam takes his 35% or so, and then the Student Loan folks take a big chunk, and then the home mortgage folks take another chunk, and then if applicable, another bank takes a chunk for a business/practice buy in loan, what starts off as a healthy bank deposit each month, very quickly dwindles down.

The debt desparity though that exists in the dental profession between the "over 40 crowd" and "under 40 crowd" is vast though nowadays. The Over 40 crowd was typically able to get through their undergraduate degree and then their dental school with debt under 50,000, and have long since paid it off. Along around the early/mid 90's is when the educational costs, both on the undergraduate and professional school levels really started exploding, to the point where 150,000 in combined educational debt is closer to the norm, if not even low norm than the exception today. Same thing goes for your medical doctors too.

By no means am I going for the sympathy line here, just giving out a little background info that many folk might not be aware of.

 

[Marc]

But dentistry is a high risk profession. Just look how many commit suicide.

I walked away from 5 years of college with two degrees and $8k of debt. My parents paid room, board and tuition for the first 3 years, and tuition on the fourth year. I paid tuition for the fifth year and housing for the fourth and fifth years. My parents were and continue to be exceedingly generous.

Engineering is one of those fields were you tend to need that degree and the education.

 

[drjeff]

that's crazy money

I'm sure there are many financial benefits in becoming a dentist. Heck I read an article just the other day about highest paid professions for people with two year degrees. Dental Hygenist rated highest at $65K average per year. I have zero interest in putting my hands in the mouths of strangers, but reading that article gave me pause to think about what a dentist must make and why my crowns cost so damn much :uzi:

Try employing 4 hygienists and seeing what that does to the monthly cashflow of a practice I like to tell folks that on paper, my practice grosses ALOT of $$, it's just too bad that the overhead of the practice is also ALOT of $$

Likewise, on a business front, I seriously have NO problem when I hear that oil companies made Billions last quarter and that the profit margin is less than 10%, which IMHO is a very reasonable percentage. It's just pure economies of scale.

 

[drjeff]

But dentistry is a high risk profession. Just look how many commit suicide.

.

As of late, we've actually been dropping down that list of "professions most likely to knock themselves off" list Either we're all just starting to get a warm fuzzy feeling about ourselves as dentists, or all the real crazy ones "did the deed" already

 

[Marc]

As of late, we've actually been dropping down that list of "professions most likely to knock themselves off" list Either we're all just starting to get a warm fuzzy feeling about ourselves as dentists, or all the real crazy ones "did the deed" already

Well that's good to hear. Dentists get a bad rap for just doing their job. I had another good cleaning yesterday, although the backs of my front lower teeth continue to be a problem spot for tarter and calcium build up.